The next day seemed quiet, to any person who hadn't heard of the new matchmaking fad they would have believed that all the students were very dedicated to their studies. On the contrary, so many of them were playing with their new toy that they remained outwardly silent; Hermione herself was officially on board. She and her mystery boy had talked until past lights out, to the point that Lavender even threatened to hex her if she didn't put her wand out. When she woke up she felt silly for talking almost the entire night- she felt as if she was becoming as bad as Lavender. When running out the door to class she had contemplated taking her new journal, but didn't know if, it was a good idea. By the time her Muggle Studies class rolled around, she was happy she did. The class was focusing on Shakespeare today, a subject Hermione had studied on her own before. Using a great deal of stealth, she took out her journal and decided to see if the mystery boy had his open.

Hello? I just wanted to see if you were in class or busy...

A few minutes passed, Hermione finally giving up and starting to pay attention to Professor Adams' lesson. She was taking down notes when she looked over to her journal and decided to have one last peek.

I'm in class but I can't pay attention...

I am paying attention…Well, at least I was. Is everything all right? Something on your mind?

bHave you ever had to hide what you really are from the world?

Hermione blinked, seeing as she felt as if she hid from the world everyday. Although she hated it, she was put on display, one third of the 'Golden Trio'. Harry, Ron and herself were the trifecta of good, looked at as heroes- yet she felt as if she had to hide away. Everyone considered her the brains, but no one ever looked at her heart; her drive was always thought of as persistence and not passion.

Honestly, and I don't know why I'm saying this, but I feel as if I'm kept from the world but thrust into the public eye.

That's exactly how I feel. But everything to do with me is rotten. I feel like a prisoner in my own world, like I'm being forced to play the part of antagonist for no reason.

Hermione reflected briefly on what he wrote. She wondered who her partner could be, someone that feels like they're forced to do wrong? She continued writing.

I don't think that you could be that bad... There are people at this school that are much worse than you. But if you want to make yourself feel better, be nice, or help someone. You could always talk to someone you wouldn't normally talk to.

bYou know, it may not be easy but I'll consider that.

Just then, Professor Adams cleared her throat.

"Miss Granger? I asked you a question. It's nice to see that your are taking diligent notes, but in the future I'd like you to pay attention. Now, have you studied Shakespeare before? I thought I would ask to get your opinion since you are the only muggle-born in this class hour." Hermione blushed and looked around, noticing the smirk on Malfoy's face. She scowled at him and returned her gaze to the professor.

"I'm sorry professor, and I have only studied his works on my own. I'm a big fan of A Midsummers Nights Dream and the Taming of the Shew, both of which where adapted to muggle films a while ago."

" That's interesting, Miss Granger. And since you have read both of those plays, it has solved my problem." Professor Adams turned to the class. "That brings me to our next assignment." Everyone in the class groaned. " I'm going to be pairing up each of you with a fellow student, and you will have to perfom a scene from the play that gets assigned to you."

Hermione looked down at her journal and figured she should tell her new friend that she had to go. She figured she had enough time since her name was in the g's and Professor Adams had just began giving people their partners. She quickly scrawled that she had to go and she would talk later.

"Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, you shall be performing a scene from Romeo and Juliet." The Professor grinned at her two brightest students."

"But Professor!" Hermione screeched, not knowing how loud she was.

"Miss Granger, everyone has been matched up by marks for this assignment, I'm sorry if you are unhappy with your partner but it shall not change!" Hermione looked embarrassed and Draco simply sat fuming, his ears turning red and his fists clenched. Professor Adams continued on with her list and noticed that class was almost over."Now you may all get your assigned scene on your way out, have a good rest of the day. You are dismissed!"

***

Chapter Three

Dinner was very uneventful for Hermione. She was still slightly embarrassed by her outburst in class and didn't quite understand why it was happening. Everyone including the teachers knew about her problems with Malfoy; they themselves knew that he was a pureblood git. So why try to pair him up with a muggle-born, especially since she was obviously smarter than him? All of the people at their table was sympathetic to her cause, but it just erked her more.

Across the Great Hall, Draco could care less about the upcoming assignment. He was more focused on his 'journal', having put a charm on it to make it appear different from everyone else's. He may have changed now that the war was over, but he wasn't going to be called a sissy for using the stupid 'match-making' book. Of course Draco was mortified by Hermione's behavior in class, how dare she be the one to be embarrassed by him! He would find a way to get back at her later- right now he was going to ask for some advice from his new "friend". Draco felt like he was more at ease when talking to the girl writing from the other side of the book. Maybe it was because she didn't know him, but it made him feel like he could have someone that he could tell all his secrets to becauseshe didn't really belong to him.

Why is everything always so complicated?

He looked at the words on the paper waiting, and almost he felt exposed. He sighed after a few minutes and closed the journal, having gotten no response.

Hermione was on her way to the library when she bumped into Malfoy, literally. She was so sick of everything from that horrible day that she just snapped.

"Malfoy! Why can you never look where you're going? It's like I'm constantly bumping into the wall of annoyingness! For once I would love to walk somewhere and not bump into your massive oafishness!"

Panting after her little rant, she looked him in the eyes, not really caring that she might have hurt him in some way. Then she remembered that he had no feelings, he's a Malfoy.

"Listen you, you Mudblood, I don't care if you have a massive case of PMS and want to blame the world for your wrongdoings, but you ran into me! You know, you might notice things Granger, if you take out that stick up your arse. Relax and stop being such a bloody bitch, you'll be a lot easier to work with in the coming weeks if you do! You know, if you were a normal person I'd suggest you just have a shag, but you're not. No one could pry apart the innocent legs of Hermione Granger, though." He stepped closer, putting his mouth close to her ear. "Right?"

He stepped back and smirked, his point being to piss her off and make her speechless. Well, part of his plan worked. Hermione was very angry. How dare he insinuate anything that he was! She was trying to control herself, but she couldn't. So she slapped him.

"Malfoy, if my virtue is so important for you to know about, how about you ask around? Those slags you sleep with know all the timely gossip." She turned on her heel and headed up to her dorm, forgetting why she had ever even wanted to visit the library to begin with.

Malfoy just stood there, aghast that she had hit him again. He finally moved and made his way back to his dormitory with the same look on his face as right after she slapped him. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and got into his bed. He brought his journal with him, hoping to see a reply. There was one, and the words jumped out at him. He wondered if the girl knew who he was because her words seemed so true.

Because you make it that way.